diff --git a/src/test/util_tests.cpp b/src/test/util_tests.cpp
index 1b0ccad51..2d05794cc 100644
--- a/src/test/util_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/util_tests.cpp
@@ -323,4 +323,62 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(util_seed_insecure_rand)
     }
 }
 
+static int nCounter = 0;
+
+static void Count()
+{
+    ++nCounter;
+    MilliSleep(10);
+}
+
+static void CountWithArg(int arg)
+{
+    nCounter += arg;
+    MilliSleep(10);
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(util_loop_forever1)
+{
+    boost::thread_group threadGroup;
+
+    threadGroup.create_thread(boost::bind(&LoopForever<void (*)()>, "count", &Count, 1));
+    MilliSleep(1);
+    threadGroup.interrupt_all();
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(nCounter, 1);
+    nCounter = 0;
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(util_loop_forever2)
+{
+    boost::thread_group threadGroup;
+
+    boost::function<void()> f = boost::bind(&CountWithArg, 11);
+    threadGroup.create_thread(boost::bind(&LoopForever<boost::function<void()> >, "count11", f, 11));
+    MilliSleep(1);
+    threadGroup.interrupt_all();
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(nCounter, 11);
+    nCounter = 0;
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(util_threadtrace1)
+{
+    boost::thread_group threadGroup;
+
+    threadGroup.create_thread(boost::bind(&TraceThread<void (*)()>, "count11", &Count));
+    threadGroup.join_all();
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(nCounter, 1);
+    nCounter = 0;
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(util_threadtrace2)
+{
+    boost::thread_group threadGroup;
+
+    boost::function<void()> f = boost::bind(&CountWithArg, 11);
+    threadGroup.create_thread(boost::bind(&TraceThread<boost::function<void()> >, "count11", f));
+    threadGroup.join_all();
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(nCounter, 11);
+    nCounter = 0;
+}
+
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE_END()
diff --git a/src/util.h b/src/util.h
index 5173686ed..0c5ed9163 100644
--- a/src/util.h
+++ b/src/util.h
@@ -527,4 +527,60 @@ inline uint32_t ByteReverse(uint32_t value)
     return (value<<16) | (value>>16);
 }
 
+// Standard wrapper for do-something-forever thread functions.
+// "Forever" really means until the thread is interrupted.
+// Use it like:
+//   new boost::thread(boost::bind(&LoopForever<void (*)()>, "dumpaddr", &DumpAddresses, 10000));
+// or maybe:
+//    boost::function<void()> f = boost::bind(&FunctionWithArg, argument);
+//    threadGroup.create_thread(boost::bind(&LoopForever<boost::function<void()> >, "nothing", f, milliseconds));
+template <typename Callable> void LoopForever(const char* name,  Callable func, int64 msecs)
+{
+    std::string s = strprintf("bitcoin-%s", name);
+    RenameThread(s.c_str());
+    printf("%s thread start\n", name);
+    try
+    {
+        while (1)
+        {
+            func();
+            MilliSleep(msecs);
+        }
+    }
+    catch (boost::thread_interrupted)
+    {
+        printf("%s thread stop\n", name);
+        throw;
+    }
+    catch (std::exception& e) {
+        PrintException(&e, name);
+    }
+    catch (...) {
+        PrintException(NULL, name);
+    }
+}
+// .. and a wrapper that just calls func once
+template <typename Callable> void TraceThread(const char* name,  Callable func)
+{
+    std::string s = strprintf("bitcoin-%s", name);
+    RenameThread(s.c_str());
+    try
+    {
+        printf("%s thread start\n", name);
+        func();
+        printf("%s thread exit\n", name);
+    }
+    catch (boost::thread_interrupted)
+    {
+        printf("%s thread interrupt\n", name);
+        throw;
+    }
+    catch (std::exception& e) {
+        PrintException(&e, name);
+    }
+    catch (...) {
+        PrintException(NULL, name);
+    }
+}
+
 #endif